He said: “With spare capacity across the UK running perilously low, Longannet could have played an important role in keeping lights for several years to come as we continue towards cleaner forms of generation, all the more so in light of [the] announcement that a similar sized power station, Eggborough in Yorkshire, will also close.”

He went on to say new, cleaner energy generation is needed to safeguard security of supply.

He added: “The UK Government is doing nothing to incentivise this, forcing the country’s second largest power station to close while slashing support for renewables.

“We fought hard to achieve a different outcome for Longannet yet the UK Government, from the Prime Minister down, refused to lift a finger.”

A Longannet taskforce plans to produce an ‘Economic Recovery Plan’ to support workers, businesses and communities affected.